Rolex Watches and Retained Value

[escobar144]

I was hoping I could get everyones opinion on this. Why is it such a taboo to talk about Rolex and how certain models perform on the second hand market? I understand that the reason why regular people cant buy hard to get SS models is due to individuals who buy in order to just flip them for money. But why is it so bad to ask questions on which models perform better than other in terms of retained value? I love Rolex watches, Ive wanted a rolex since I was in grade school. However I would be lying if I said that part of the reason why I like certain models is because I know if shit hits the fan and I am in dire need of funds I can let go of one of my pieces in order to get myself out of a jam. I understand thats not how everyone else thinks but it definitely is a huge factor into why I choose certain watches over others.

[Patton250]

Originally Posted by escobar144

I was hoping I could get everyones opinion on this. Why is it such a taboo to talk about Rolex and how certain models perform on the second hand market? I understand that the reason why regular people cant buy hard to get SS models is due to individuals who buy in order to just flip them for money. But why is it so bad to ask questions on which models perform better than other in terms of retained value? I love Rolex watches, Ive wanted a rolex since I was in grade school. However I would be lying if I said that part of the reason why I like certain models is because I know if shit hits the fan and I am in dire need of funds I can let go of one of my pieces in order to get myself out of a jam. I understand thats not how everyone else thinks but it definitely is a huge factor into why I choose certain watches over others.

Several reasons. First off the subject has been beaten to death. Second there are probably many very wealthy people here that just don’t care about this subject and third there are lots of people with just one watch that will keep it forever and they don’t care about this subject.

[Tools]

Nothing wrong with discussing value retention in general terms.

The "What's my watch worth" threads are topics that can be found with 5 minutes on the 'Net, and frequently lead to "I wanna sell it" posts.. These are not welcome.

Of course, you know that your question is not about Rolex Watches, which is what this board is for, it's about value... shhhhh, the value cops are lurking.

[sgwatchguy]

I have a dear colleague and her husband who I know. They’ve been buying second hand Rolex to wear, not trade, since they first got married decades ago. They seldom sell, if they want to get something new and trade. As they tell me, they have never in the last many decades lost money on a Rolex. But this is Asia and they are not unique. In many countries in Asia, Rolex has always been unique and remains so. People believe that a Rolex always increases in value.

[GCFA]

I reckon the forum rules are against it. Article 4 sub clause (iv) states' THIS IS A ROLEX WATCH DISCUSSION FORUM AND NOT A PRICE OR INVESTMENT OR DISCOUNT DISCUSSION FORUM SO IF YOU HAVE A QUERY REGARDING PRICES, INVESTMENTS OR DISCOUNTS THEN MAKE YOUR OWN PERSONAL ENQUIRIES AND INVESTIGATIONS AND DO NOT POST THOSE ISSUES HERE.'

[upsidedownbelt]

There are certain people here who deem particular topics off limits because they are not what they think A real Rolex enthusiast should care about. There are plenty of topics I do t care about, but I just skip over those. Locking threads because a particular person doesn’t like them has always seemed wrong to me.

[Kevin of Larchmont]

It’s not taboo, it happens all the time, it’s just boring. It’s like the endless droning on and on about watches not being available because people just buy them to sell them WHICH MEANS THEY ARE STILL AVAILABLE. I learn so much here about a subject I enjoy immensely but you have to wade through a lot of redundancy to get the the nuggets.

[Bro Watch]

What is better than a Rolex? A Rolex that goes up in value!

I have a few Rolex watchs and do not need to sell them, but it is good to know they are worth more than I paid for them.

There's nothing wrong with asking about the value of a watch. For some people it is good to know you are not losing money and it helps to justify the purchase.

Sent from my SM-G973U1 using Tapatalk

[maromewatches]

I always like to get rolex watches knowing that I could sell it tomorrow for more.

[joli160]

These topics as well as value retention threads are really a dead horse and polluting the forum imho

[Seddyspaghetti]

I don’t mind them. But rules are rules i guess.

[Harry-57]

Anybody who is into watches and maybe owns a Rolex or several knows about the value retention of certain brands and models. It's nice to own something you love and know that it will retain value - in some cases. Nothing wrong with that but not a exactly a gold mine of conversation, unless your boredom threshold is sky high.

It's the commoditisation of these things by people who only see the profit or loss that gets stamped on. And rightly so. They should take it somewhere else. The Mods are only to happy to assist in this respect.

[Tavli3]

Also because you can go on Chrono24, WatchRecon, Watch Patrol etc and simply see the value of any watch you can think of. It's then very easy to see which watches hold value, lose value or gain in value. Plus its unbiased, I would suspect you would get as many biased price opinions as you would unbiased in a typical forum discussion.

More importantly lets hope for a full year of production in 2021. Just read an article where it stated Swiss Watch exports are down 24% for 2020. While the article seemed to make it look like it was lack of demand which we all know is not the case, the article did not make mention of the 3 months of production loss as the reason. Hopefully in 2021 we'll see more availability even if its still from the safe in the back.

My recent watch shopping day and a fruitless one I might add was a terrible bore. Richard Mille-5 watches on display, 3 of which were the size of hockey pucks and 2 were iced out, not big sellers it looked like, AP-8, PP-6 or 7, my favorite AD had 9, Rolex Boutique had lots of watches, all the same ladies DJs and OPs with the obligatory PM piece here an there. Hublot, IWC, Vacheron and Panerai had lots of watches but no customers or even window shoppers.

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by Tavli3

Also because you can go on Chrono24, WatchRecon, Watch Patrol etc and simply see the value of any watch you can think of. It's then very easy to see which watches hold value, lose value or gain in value. Plus its unbiased,

Good point. I track mine on C24, when I remember to. If nothing else it's an indicator of approximate insurance value.

[Ihatecheese]

As the others wrote. I think it just gets sadly boring as so many posts on the board are about money now rather than the actual watch. Reflective of the new additional customer base presumably.

[DPE]

It is only boring to those that have collected or studied the Rolex trend before. I am sure that the new Generation of Rolex watch lovers that are starting out do not find this a boring subject or question. Sometimes we must share a bit a knowledge to help others learn.

[Goin2drt]

Don’t think it is taboo, just beaten to death. Very volatile subject just as you have plenty on both far ends of both sides.

[911991]

The watch-game has really changed, when I purchased my Sub Date new in 1985 for around $950 no one talked about the resale value, while $1000 for a watch was expensive in 1985, I had a top of line Seiko watch for $600 so the gap was much closer. Fast forward to 2020 my Sub appraised for $10K and I could not give the Seiko away (actually I did for free).

But for todays buyer $8k plus is premium money for a watch, but its nice to have the added bonus that you could get back 80-90% of your cash if the watch doesn't work out for you. So now expensive watches have become more of a commodity purchase for some. But I'm not sure people enjoy investment watches as they try to preserve a watch that looks brand new (not remove sticker etc.) some just putting them in a safe never wearing it. To each its own, but when I bought my Sub I wore it 24 hours a day everyday, and its still a daily wearer, as they say "own your watch, dont let it own you", Enjoy!!!!

[TswaneNguni]

Chrono24 ,quick and efficient .Perfect for retained value .

Dont be lazy .

[Golfbone]

I think it's fine to discuss this and those that are interested can participate....those that are not interested can ignore. There is no doubt that the retained value proposition of Rolex and Patek makes them far more collectible which in turn helps their retained value and creates a vicious cycle driving prices up and decreasing availability. People always want what they cannot have which is the root of the word exclusive. If you don't exclude you aren't very exclusive are you? I have lovely pieces that have lost value over the years while the Rolex/Pateks I have all have appreciated significantly. So moving forward I will stick with brands and models I know make good investments rather than buy something that catches my eye at the moment because Panerai, IWC, Franck Muller, JLC, etc. no matter how attractive they look at the moment will not appreciate in value the way Rolex and Patek have. When you buy art you can buy what looks good to your eye or you can buy something that will appreciate in value but the best thing to do is to learn how to satisfy both requirements and I feel that is also the best approach for collecting watches. It's MUCH easier with watches. ANY Rolex Sport SS watch you buy new is going to hold it's value. Done.

[brandrea]

There you have it OP

[peterpl]

I cant wait until the watch market crashes. LOL

[kuuttingg]

Originally Posted by Golfbone

I think it's fine to discuss this and those that are interested can participate....those that are not interested can ignore. There is no doubt that the retained value proposition of Rolex and Patek makes them far more collectible which in turn helps their retained value and creates a vicious cycle driving prices up and decreasing availability. People always want what they cannot have which is the root of the word exclusive. If you don't exclude you aren't very exclusive are you? I have lovely pieces that have lost value over the years while the Rolex/Pateks I have all have appreciated significantly. So moving forward I will stick with brands and models I know make good investments rather than buy something that catches my eye at the moment because Panerai, IWC, Franck Muller, JLC, etc. no matter how attractive they look at the moment will not appreciate in value the way Rolex and Patek have. When you buy art you can buy what looks good to your eye or you can buy something that will appreciate in value but the best thing to do is to learn how to satisfy both requirements and I feel that is also the best approach for collecting watches. It's MUCH easier with watches. ANY Rolex Sport SS watch you buy new is going to hold it's value. Done.

+1. My IWC remained a painful/regretful buy years later.

[garyk]

Originally Posted by peterpl

I cant wait until the watch market crashes. LOL

It could happen. I’m sure in the future, if you need to tell time, it will be somehow implanted in your optical nerve. That person will then spot a collector walking down the street wearing a beautiful Gold Rolex Daytona and wondering where to find such a beautiful time telling adornment?? Could happen lol...

[csaltphoto]

Value retention was certainly one of the reasons I bought a Rolex. I certainly did not expect it to nearly double in value in the 2 years since I bought it. But its part of the conversation with others when they think I was crazy to pay 6K for a watch. Would it have been better to pay 1K or 2K for something that would be worth almost nothing now? Or even that same 6K for something that is now worth even marginally less? Heck, it's a lot more fun than having that same 6K in the bank even.

[Pw92676]

I make all my discretionary purchases, barring real estate, on how much use and satisfaction the object will bring. I personally think that if I’m concerned about resale value, I shouldn’t make the purchase in the first place. I love this forum because it provides a connection amongst watch enthusiasts and collectors. The value side of it doesn’t do much for me. YMMV.

[tomallen]

If you bought a Rolex GMT 16700 IN 1999 for 3300.00 and kept the boxes, booklets and warrantee paper, and the watch in worn but well maintained original condition and sold it tomorrow you will gain a nice profit. You could maybe get a new GMT II at retail if you can find one and have enough left over for lunch.